WO1980001231A1

WO1980001231A1 - Method and device for feeding animals

Info

Publication number: WO1980001231A1
Application number: PCT/DE1979/000147
Authority: WO
Inventors: J Helmrich; P Bruns
Original assignee: Alfa Laval Agrar Gmbh; J Helmrich; P Bruns
Priority date: 1978-12-20
Filing date: 1980-02-27
Publication date: 1980-06-26
Also published as: DE2855000C2; DE2855000A1

Abstract

The process and the device are intended for the feeding of animals for which a place (3) is provided for each of them in an animal shed. The places are arranged one next to the other and form a row. A feeding station (23) is moved at a programmable frequency from one place to another, so as to feed each animal according to a plan predetermined by its own needs. The feeding of the animal is generated by individual information provided from each animal. The control may be effected by an information receiver (24) which is connected to a transmitter of information related to the animal. This information transmitter may be comprised of a technical unit applied onto the animal. Further, a natural characteristic outside the latter, allowing its identification with respect to other animals is also taken in consideration as information transmitter and causes the transmission of a pulse into the information transmitted.

Description

ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE AND DEVICE

The invention relates to a method for the care of animals in a barn, in which a number of places corresponding to the number of animals is available, which are arranged next to one another in at least one row and at which there is a programmable frequency of one place a supply station moves past to the neighboring one, where each animal is cared for according to a plan tailored to its individual needs.

Moreover, the invention relates to a device for implementing a method for supplying Tie¬ ren in a stable, in which a number of animals corresponding number of spaces available, which a number are disposed next to each other in min- ^■ least and which in Programmable frequency moves from one place to the next a supply station, through which each animal is cared for according to a plan tailored to its individual needs.

In this way, the animals are cared for largely independently of their respective needs. The amount of feed is only measured based on experience. The respective need of an individual animal is not taken into account, so that, depending on the individual case, the individual animal receives too little or too much feed. There is no possibility to choose between the individual types of food that is optimal in terms of nutritional physiology given a given physical constitution of the animal. Hochmelke cows

OMPI are supplied with the same feed composition, for example, as dry animals. Finally, there is hardly any possibility within the framework of the stagnation to cope with exceptional situations which could result, for example, from an illness or the heat of the animal. It is precisely these exceptional cases that occur relatively frequently in a correspondingly large herd.

Modern studies have shown that, for example, in cows there is a very close dependency between the milk yield and the amount of concentrate fed to the cow. On the other hand, concentrated feed is expensive, so that giving concentrate that cannot be converted into milk yield unnecessarily significantly increases the cost of cow husbandry. By optimizing the feeding, the amount of feed can therefore be kept low and a high animal output can be achieved. In addition, the cow "^{" has} particularly careful feeding principles.

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the method of the type mentioned in the introduction in such a way that the individual animal is optimally cared for depending on the overall physical constitution.

This object is achieved in that the supply is controlled by individual information originating from the animals.

This supply has the advantage that the animals standing on a feeding place assigned to them can also be supplied fully automatically. This supply includes feeding the animals as well. also any kind of animal-specific treatment. For example, dairy cows can be milked according to a schedule that is specified for them. For this purpose, both the milking unit and the container holding the milked milk become the animal's feeding place

- hazards. The milked amount of milk can be an important indicator for the overall constitution of an animal. To determine it, the amount of milked milk is measured, for example with the help of a balance. Depending on the milk yield, the amount of concentrate can be measured for the animal. In addition, a mixture ratio which is favorable for the respective animal can be determined between a plurality of concentrated feed components or the proportion of roughage to be fed in each case.

Finally, this individual care of the animal makes it possible to ascertain exceptional health conditions. For example, symptoms of illness can be reacted to in good time with the addition of medication to the feed or drinking trough. Appropriate precautions for proper feeding must also be taken from a nutritional point of view even during the mating season.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one information provider on the animal is connected to an information receiver integrated into the supply station, at least in certain relative positions of the animal relative to the supply station.

This supply station has the advantage that it considerably rationalizes the work in the barn by the fact that all supply functions can be carried out by it. The farmer essentially has supervisory functions. Nevertheless, each animal is cared for individually, so that an optimal course of body functions can be expected. The entire supply station is moved relative to the animal. Both the supply routes and the circuitry complexity required for the supply are thereby kept small. Physical stress is avoided by the mobile arrangement of the supply station for the animal owner. Finally are the hygienic conditions are optimal because long lines for the milk in the barn are no longer necessary. If, for example, when the cows are grazing on the pasture, the animals switch among themselves, the individual animal is nevertheless cared for individually, since it is not tied to the feeding place but to the animal. The supply unit is controlled with the aid of data which are delivered individually by each individual animal.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, for example.

The drawings show:

1 shows a spatial representation of cows reared in a row with a mobile combination of feed determiner and allocator,

Figure 2: a spatial representation of cows in a row and various construction units for mobile feed determination and stationary feed allocation and

Figure 3: a sketch of a stable system with a mobile supply unit.

In a barn 1, cows 2 are stabled in a row. Each individual animal takes up a feeding place 3 on which it is fixed. This feeding place 3 is assigned to the animal all year round. But it is also ^'possible that the animals example terplatz leave for the purpose of grazing Ganges their Fut¬ and fixed upon her return to the same or another feeding place third The fixation can be done in such a way that each individual animal around

__ OMPI his neck wears a chain, which is embedded in the floor of the stable 1. Any other limitation of the freedom of movement of the individual animal is also possible.

A device 5 is moved past the limitation of the feeding places 3 facing the head 4 of the cows 2, which device serves both for determining the respective feeding requirements of a cow 2 and for feeding allocation. It essentially consists of a feed determiner 6 and a feed distributor 12. The device is fastened to a slide 8 with four struts 7. This carriage 8 is driven on a rail 9 through the stable 1 so that it can be stopped in front of the head 4 of a cow 2.

The feed determiner 6 surrounds a feed opening 10 as a frame antenna, through which a cow 2 can insert her head 4 when the device 5 stops in front of her feed place 3. It. it is also possible to design the antenna in a different form. A feed trough 11 extends from behind the feed opening 10, from which the cow 2 can receive feed by inserting the head 4 into the feed opening 10. The feed allocated by the feed distributor 12 falls into the feed trough 11. The feed distributor 12 is controlled by the feed determiner 6 in such a way that the amount of feed is allocated specifically for the individual animal that is inserted into the feed opening 10 for its head 4. The feed distributor 12 removes the feed from a storage container which can be filled via a funnel 13.

The amount of feed to be allocated to the individual animal results from the personal supply data. These are preprogrammed for the individual animal in a transponder 14, which is hung around its neck. This transponder 1 is set so that it can interact with a frame antenna surrounding the feed opening 10. This generates a control current, which controls the feed allocator 12 actuated as long as it corresponds to the setting of the transponder 14. During this time, feed falls into the feed trough 11 at a speed which essentially corresponds to the feeding speed of the individual animal. It is conceivable that the cow retrieves and consumes the total amount of feed it is entitled to during a certain period of time. However, the cow can also remove the head 4 beforehand from the feed opening 10 surrounded by the antenna, so that the feed distributor 12 does not allocate any further feed into the feed trough 11. In this respect, the minimum amount of feed demanded by the individual animal is at the discretion of this animal. Only the total amount of feed is after one for each. of the individual animal feed plan controlled. The animal can only call up individual amounts of feed from the feed distributor within the framework of this feed plan.

After the first cow in the row has eaten feed at her convenience, the device 5 is given an impulse, for example by removing the head 4 from the feed opening 10, on the basis of which the entire device is conveyed to the next cow along the rail track 9 is changed. For this purpose, a drive can be switched on, which pulls the carriage 8 over the rail track 9, for example on a pull rope 16. However, it is also possible to pre-program the dwell time of the device 5 at each individual feeding place 3 in such a way that the dwell time would just be sufficient to allocate the maximum amount of feed to the individual and have it eaten by him. Finally, it is conceivable to dispense a pre-programmed certain amount of feed into a feed bowl provided for each animal. While the animal is eating the feed from this bowl, the _.. device 5 can continue to the next feeding place.

OMPI Before continuing on, care must be taken to ensure that the cow 2, which until then has inserted her head into the feed opening 10, pulls the head out of the feed opening 10 again. In order to prevent any risk of accidents to this extent, it is possible to equip the feed opening 10 with sliding surfaces along which the head 4 slides out of the feed opening 10 when the device 5 moves even if the individual animal does not voluntarily pull its head 4 out of the feed opening . In any case, to prevent the animal from moving when driving the device

5 injured, the drive for the carriage 8 can be provided with a .slip clutch or predetermined breaking point, so that the further travel of the carriage 8 is forcibly ended if the head 4 would jam, for example, in the chuck opening 10. In addition, both the antenna and the feed opening 10 can be designed such that the head 4 of the animal is not enclosed in its entirety. This eliminates the risk of jamming.

Before the start of feeding, the feed distributor 12 is filled with feed through the hopper 13, then the device 5 is moved to the cow 2 standing at the first feeding place 3. The cow 2, who is used to finding the concentrate she desires behind the feed opening 10, sticks her head 4 through the feed opening 10, see above. that the antenna surrounding the feed opening 10 receives a command from the transponder 14. The feed distributor 12 is controlled on the basis of this command. He releases the feed into the feed trough 11, from which the cow 2 can take it. As soon as the cow 2 pulls its head out of the feed opening 10, the feed determiner 6 receives no further commands from the loop antenna, so that it stops the feed distributor 12. The feed flow from the feed distributor 12 towards the feed trough 11 is sealed. However, if the cow 2 remains with its head 4 in the feed opening 10 until the maximum amount of feed per unit time has been distributed by the feed distributor 12, the feed determiner 6 switches off the feed distributor 12 after this time. In the absence of further feed flow, the cow 2 withdraws its head from the feed opening 10. After the specified dwell time has elapsed, the device 5 moves to the cow 2 standing at the next feeding place 3. Her head 4 also slides out of the feeding opening 10 if she has not yet completely pulled it out .

In addition, it is possible to arrange the feed determiner 6 and the feed allocator 12 in different devices (FIG. 2). In this embodiment of the invention 5, only the feed determiner 6 is driven from one cow 2 to the next. It is controlled so that the antenna is in the immediate vicinity of the cow 2 _. connected pulse generator, for example of the transponder 14. This is done, for example, by lowering a half-frame antenna on a strut 18 in the direction of the neck of the cow 2, to which the transponder 14 is attached. The half-frame

> Call the signal sent by the transponder 14, by means of which the feed distributor 12 designed as a screw is set in motion. At the same time, a feeder 17 is opened, through which the feed is conveyed in the direction of the feed trough 11. After the individual animal has eaten the amount of feed it desires and pulled its head 4 out of the feed determiner 0 6, the allocation 17 assigned to its feed trough is stopped again by stopping the conveyor 41 arranged in it. In this way, no further concentrate can flow in the direction of the feed trough 11 through the feed channel 42. Now will

OMPI The feed determiner 6 hanging on a strut 18 travels along the rail track 9 to the cow 2 standing on the next feeding place 3. It is conceivable to pull the strut 18 with the aid of a pulling rope 16 along the rail track 9, the pulling rope 16 being set in motion by drives 19, 20. After all the cows have eaten up the amount of feed they have called up during a feeding period, the feed determiner 6 is moved back to the beginning of the row in which the cows 2 were stabled. At the same time, a screw conveyor 21 is stopped, which serves to promote the feed in the feed distributor. In addition, the feed distributor is refilled from a storage container 22. After a certain predetermined time has elapsed, which is selected in the sense of optimal feeding of the cows 2, a new cycle begins, in which the feed determiner 6 is again driven past the feeding places 3.

In addition, it is also possible to have the animals fed using a process computer. In this, the specific feeding plan is entered for each individual animal. As part of this feeding plan, the feed distributor 12 is controlled by the feed determiner 6.

This feed determinant sends the impulses it receives, which serve to identify the individual animal, to the process computer. The latter then controls the feed allocator 12 in accordance with the feeding plan entered for this animal. The transmission of animal-specific data from the individual animal to the process computer can take place with the aid of a transmitter-receiver system. The transmitter is attached to the animal and sends the animal-specific data, which are received by a transmitter and entered into the process computer. This ^ animal-specific data can be measurement data which are obtained from

Sensors 35 were determined. These take appropriate measurements at selected measuring points on the animal body.

With such care for the animals. it is expedient to combine the entire supply station in one structural unit and to let the animals, for example the cows 2, drive past. In particular, it has proven to be particularly space-saving to arrange the supply unit 23 on the rail track 9 of a barn 1 and to move it with the aid of a drive 19, 20. The rail track 9 can be installed in such a way that the supply unit 23 can be used to reach a large number of cows 2 which, for example, are arranged in rows opposite one another. If the spatial conditions are appropriate, the rail track 9 can also be guided through the barn 1 in several loops. If, however, this is too low, another path must be provided for transporting the supply unit 23, which can be laid, for example, between the rows of the cows 2 that have been installed.

The supply unit 23 consists, for example, of a feed detector designed as a process computer 24. In addition, a feed container 25 is fastened on the supply part 23, which can be subdivided, for example, into several sub-sections 26, 27, 28, 29. These sub-divisions 26, 27, 28, 29 are connected to the feed trough 11 via a feed channel 42, from which the cows 2 can feed. It is also possible to allocate the feed to each animal in fixed feeding bowls, one of which is assigned to each animal. Finally, the feed bowls can also be fastened to the feed channel 42 in such a way that they are transported from animal to animal with it. Each subdivision has 26, 27, 28, 29

OMPI a separate access to the feeder channel 42 so that this, depending on the personal data of a cow 2 feed from one of the subsections 26, ^'27, 28, 29 can be supplied.

In addition, a milking machine 30 is installed on the supply unit 23, which sucks the milk it has milked into a milk container 31. This milk vessel 31 is weighed by a balance 32, which is also firmly connected to the supply unit 23. The amount of milk determined with the help of this balance 32 is an important indicator for the further supply of the cow 2 which gave this milk. The result of the milk quantity measurement is therefore reported to the process computer 24 via a line 33, which calculates the supply of the cow 2 on the basis of this result and the feed plan entered.

The milk quantity can also be measured with other measuring devices, for example with flow meters. The only decisive factor is the fact that a measurement result that can be detected by the process computer 24 is delivered.

The milk milked by the individual cow 2 is sucked out of the milk container 31 into a milk collecting container ⁽ not shown). The milk milked from all the cows 2 is collected in this milk collecting container. It is therefore expediently also attached to the supply unit 23 In this milk collecting container, the milk is cooled at the same time so that it can be removed from it for dispatch to the dairy.

In addition, further animal-specific data can also be recorded by the supply unit 23. To this For this purpose, a holder 34 protrudes from the supply unit 23 in the direction of the cows 2. Sensors 35 for receiving animal-specific data are attached to this holder 34. These can be attached to the most important measuring points for recording the animal-specific data. For example, measurements of the body temperature, the heart rate, the blood pressure and the pH value of the rumen content can be considered. The measurement data are recorded by corresponding measuring devices which are also installed on the supply unit 23. The measured values determined by these measuring devices are likewise fed to the process computer 24 and evaluated by the latter in the sense of the allocation of the feed to the cow 2. The feeding plan entered into the process computer 24 serves as a basis, which in turn is matched to the basic metabolic rate values of the cow 2.

Different types of feed can be carried in the sub-sections 26, 27, 28, 29 of the feed container 25. Depending on the needs of the individual cow 2 determined by the process computer 24, the feed from the various sub-sections 26, 27, 28, 29 is put together in such a way that an optimal feeding effect is achieved. For this purpose, the feed carried in one of these subsections is introduced into the feed distributor 12 by opening the respective closure flap. It flows into the feed trough 11, where it mixes with the other types of feed. In this case, roughage can also be filled into one of the subsections 26, 27, 28, 29. However, it is also possible to provide the roughage for the cow 2 separately.

The supply unit 23 is connected to the drive 19, 20 via a pull cable 36. For this purpose, a driver pin 38 is attached below the bottom 37, which

OMPI can be formed in time as a predetermined breaking point or slip clutch.

The traction cable 36 can be deflected on the drive element 19 designed as a deflection switch. If any inhibitions occur during operation, which could possibly have been caused by a careless movement of a cow 2, the further transport of the supply unit 23 is stopped by the driver pin 38 tearing off the bottom 37 of the supply unit 23. It is also possible that the pull rope 36 slips over the driving pin 38.

The drive 19, 20 can be supplied with power from the public network via sliding contacts. In addition, however, an energy supply that is independent of the public network can also be provided, for example from batteries that are carried on the rail track 9.

OMPI

Claims

Claims;

1. Method for the care of animals in a barn in which a number of places corresponding to the number of animals is available, which are arranged at least in a row next to one another and at which a supply station moves past in a programmable frequency in each case from one place to the next which each animal is cared for according to a plan tailored to its individual needs, characterized in that the supply is controlled by individual information coming from the animals.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the ^' outgoing ^' information is processed by means of a computer preprogrammed according to the plan, which in turn controls the supply ^' .

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the information emanating from the animals contain information taking into account individual needs.

4. The method according to claim 1 to 3, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the information emanating from the animals also include such information that from measurements of individual body conditions, such as the ph value of the rumen content, the body temperature ect. come from.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the information emanating from the animals contain only those for identifying the individual animal.

6. Apparatus for carrying out a method according to claim 1 to 5 for the care of animals in a barn in which a number of places corresponding to the number of animals is available, which are arranged in at least one row next to each other and each of which is programmable in frequency moved past a place to the neighboring supply station, by which each animal is cared for according to a plan tailored to its individual needs, characterized in that at least one ^" information transmitter on the animal at least at a certain relative position of the animal is connected to the supply station with an information receiver integrated in the supply station.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the information receiver via an information processing device with a supply loading operating unit of the supply station is connected.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that a transponder is connected to the animal, which only contains information for identifying the individual animal, and the information processing device contains a programmable EDP device according to individual need data.

9. The device according to claim 6 to 7, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that a transponder is connected to the animal, which is programmable with individual need data.

10. The device according to claim 6 to 9, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that each animal is provided with at least one Meß¬ encoder, the information of the body conditions, such as pH value of the rumen content, the body temperature ect. delivers.

11. The device according to claim 6 to 10, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the supply station on a rail track is slidably mounted, which leads along the feed places of the barn.

12. The device according to claim 6 to 11, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the supply station is provided with a Futter¬ trough which is accessible to the head of the animal.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 to 11, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that a fixed feeding trough is arranged at each stall, which can be filled by the supply station.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 or ^'13, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that a pulse generator on the Versorgungs¬ station is arranged such that a Versorgungs¬ the generated running influencing signal when the animal's head in a position for receiving Fut ¬ ter leads to the feeding trough.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the pulse generator is connected to a loop antenna, which must be passed by the animal's head in order to influence a supply course.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 to 15, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the supply station out on a high above the barn rail track

; and the stationary feed trough can be filled via a jetting element connected to the supply station.